Woman&#39;s undergarment



Aug. 2, 1938. G. M. STUCKEY 4 WOMAN'S UNDERGARMENT Filed July 6', 1957 ZUZLQ'. J

1b INVENTOR Patented Aug. 2, 1938 umrsnsm'ras PATENT OfFlCE WOMANS UNDERGARMENT Gladys M. Stuckey, Manteca, Calif. Application July 6, 1937, Serial No. 151,975

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in womens undergarments andin particular is directed to, and it is my principal object to provide, a device which when arranged in proper connection with an undergarment having shoulder straps, will maintain such straps under proper tension and in place toprevent slipping thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is flexibly arranged whereby to prevent binding of the shoulder straps of a garment and permit freedom of movement of the shoulders and arms of the wearer. The device is designed for the wearer's ease and convenience and yet efliciently performs its intended and described function.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slip or petticoat provided with my device and illustrating the garment as worn.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the device, the garment to which it is attached being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the device before attachment to a garment and illustrating the elastic portion which may be included. if desired.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention and as used in connection with a brassiere.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the connection between the string and shoulder straps in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the modified form of the invention as applied to the upper and back edge of a slip.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, and at present particularly to the form of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the number I indicates a womans undergarment having shoulder straps 2 of tubular form and secured at their ends to the garment.

The upper edges of the garment at the front and back and between the shoulder straps 2 are hemmed or faced as at 3 to form, in effect, narrow sleeves as shown in section in Fig. 4 of the drawing. At each end these sleeves are arranged in communication with the tubular shoulder straps 2 of the garment.

A continuous ribbon or string 4, having an elastic portion 5 interposed therein if desired, is disposed in and extends through the continuous passageway or tube formed by the interconnected shoulder straps and sleeve portions. This endless ribbon or string is not secured to either the shoulder straps or sleeves and may shift back and forth without restriction. The elastic portion 5 of the string, if used, is preferably disposed in the front sleeve 3 at a point centrally between the shoulder straps 2. The continuous string or ribbon 4 is knotted as at K, in order that the same may be untied and adjusted to proper tension for any particular a wearer. Access to this knot is had through a button hole B.

In use the device functions easily and efiiciently to maintain the shoulder straps 2 in place on the shoulders of the wearer of a garment having the device incorporated therein. When the wearers shoulders move up or down, the string 4 shifts in the endless passage or tube and elastic portion 5 compensates for such movement maintaining the string 4 under continual tension with resulting maintenance of the tubular shoulder straps in place.

The device may be easily included in womens undergarments when manufactured or may be applied thereto after manufacture. The device may be used effectively with any undergarment having shoulder straps such as slips, brassieres, vests and all other similar types of suitable garments. The device also may be used in connection with certain outer garments such as bathing suits, strap dresses and evening gowns.

In the modified type of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the shoulder straps 2a of the garment la are of usual construction (either adjustable or non-adjustable) and need not be tubular. A length of ribbon or string 4a, having an elastic portion interposed therein, if desired, extends through sleeve 3a, and out at each end thereof, the sleeve being open at each end as particularly shown in Fig. '7. The extending ends of the string are slidably disposed through loops L secured on the adjacent ends of shoulder straps 2a, and which ends are not connected to the garment.

After passing through the loops, the ends of the string are secured to the garment at a point below the loop. With this arrangement, string 4a may shift freely back and forth in sleeve 3a with the rise and fall of the Wearers shoulders.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8 is the same as that shown in Figs. 6 and '7 except that it is here incorporated with the upper and back edge of a garment lb having plain or adjust able shoulder straps 2b fixed to the front edge of the garment and free of the garment adjacent the back edge. Loops L, are secured to the free ends of the straps and the ends of string 4b which extend from sleeve 3b are slidably disposed through the loops and then connected to the garment in the manner shown.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment having shoulder straps, an open-ended sleeve formed along one upper edge of the garment between the shoulder straps, and a flexible element, initially having a certain slack therein, slidably disposed in the sleeve and extending beyond the open ends thereof to fixed connection with the garment, the adjacent ends of the shoulder straps being free of the garment and slidably secured in connection with the extending portions of the element between the sleeve ends and the fixed ends of the element; the slack in the element forming loops beyond the ends of the sleeve when the garment is worn and whereby the effective length of one shoulder strap may be increased and at the same time proportionately decrease the effective length of the other strap.

2. A device as in claim 1 including an elastic portion interposed in said flexible element.

GLADYS M. STUCKEY. 

